Arizona at Home presented by Tracey Davis

There’s no question

that buying and

selling luxury real

estate in today’s

market requires

the assistance of

professionals with

the right experience,

capabilities, and

commitment.

Tracey Davis also

understands that

it’s about much

more than a house

- it’s about your

lifestyle and

well-being.

Searching for your perfect home is personal;

listing your home should be about more

than the Multiple Listing Service. When you

retain Tracey Davis, you get the benefit of

both worlds. Davis offers highly personalized

home buying services and knowledge of luxury

properties. In addition, Davis brings to bear her

background as a Marketing Director combined

with the global reach of Russ Lyon Sotheby’s

International Realty for successful home sales.

[email protected]

480.734.8404Contact Tracey to be included

in her MLS Neighborhood Watch Program.

tracey l. davis

Luxury Market SnapshotNORTH SCOTTSDALE SALES • PROPERTIES LISTED FOR $1M-$2M

Prior 3 Months’ Sales: 139 2013 YTD: 283Average sold price: $1,322,339 Average sold price: $1,313,234Average sold price per sq. ft.: $274.38 Average sold price per sq. ft.: $279.31

DOWNTOWN SCOTTSDALE/SOUTH OF SHEA SALES • PROPERTIES LISTED FOR $500K-$1.5MPrior 3 Months’ Sales:131 2013 YTD: 295Average sold price: $697,966 Average sold price: $693,658Average sold price per sq. ft.: $261.88 Average sold price per sq. ft.: $267.87

NORTH PHOENIX SALES • PROPERTIES LISTED FOR $500K-$1.5MPrior 3 Months’ Sales: 102 2013 YTD: 188Average sold price: $653,113 Average sold price: $632,202Average sold price per sq. ft.: $198.06 Average sold price per sq. ft.: $190.19

PARADISE VALLEY SALES • ALL SINGLE-FAMILY HOMESPrior 3 Months’ Sales: 124 2013 YTD: 254Average sold price: $1,714,776 Average sold price: $1,615,975Average sold price per sq. ft.: $312.39 Average sold price per sq. ft.: $311.18

Statistics compiled by Tracey Davis, Realtor*

Source: Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service.

Luxury Properties Marketing DirectorProfessional Realtor &

Dedicated Buyer Representation

Produced by Desert Lifestyle Publishing • 480.460.0996 • www.DesertLifestyle.netIf your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation for that listing.

PROPERTIES OFFERED BY TRACEY DAVIS

your homeNeutral Paint Palettes,

Mass Appeal

grilling gourmetVillage Tavern’s

Thai Chicken Skewers

Arizona At HomeSeptember | October 2013

As Temperatures Cool, Get Ready to Enjoy Your Backyard!

Outdoor Adventure

rior P

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Want your property to be our next cover home?

Call Tracey for the most effective marketing

to sell your property at 480.734.8404.

6771 E Caballo Drive | MLS # 4958240 | 5,950 SQFT | 5 BED | 4.5 BATH | $1,487,500

BUYER REPRESENTATION - PARADISE VALLEY ESTATES FOR $250/SQFT

27336 N 103rd Way | MLS # 4922867 | 5,072 SQFT | 3 BED | 3.5 BATH | $1,695,000

UNDER CONTRACT IN LUXURIOUS ESTANCIA GOLF CLUB

10023 North McDowell View Trail | MLS # 4853236 | 4,075 SQFT | 3 BED | 3.5 BATH | $995,000

PENDING IN FIRE ROCK COUNTRY CLUB

Your Home

Event CalendarSeptember | October 2013

Arizona Restaurant WeekParticipating Restaurants | September 21-29602.307.9134 | ArizonaRestaurantWeek.comGet out and explore the many great restaurants the valley has to offer! With great prices and restaurant selections this is a chance to delight your palate. This statewide affair offers foodies a wealth of dining opportunities and the chance to get outside their own neighborhood and try something new. From sizzling Southwestern and soothing comfort foods to five-star dining and international fare – it’s all on the table during Arizona Restaurant Week.

Mozart in SpainScottsdale Center for the Performing Arts | September 30480.499.8587 | ScottsdalePerformingArts.orgASU Concerts at the Center features performances by the faculty and students of the Arizona State University Herberger Institute School of Music. Pianist Walter Cosand performs music centering around the dual themes of Mozart and Spain, including selections from the opera Don Giovanni.

Phoenix Fashion WeekTalking Stick Resort | October 3-5480.850.7734 | TalkingStickResort.comDiscover the latest national and international fashion trends here in Scottsdale. This week brings world class innovation and fashion to the southwest! The organization’s mission is to bridge the gap between national and international designers and premier retailers and prestige fashion media. Phoenix Fashion Week’s ultimate goal is to garner global exposure for Arizona’s fashion industry.

Olive Harvest FestivalQueen Creek Olive Mill | October 12-December 15480.888.9290 | QueenCreekOliveMill.comEnjoy live music, wine tasting, and local product tasting on the weekends this fall. Squeeze in an Olive 101 tour for a chance to taste the fresh oil straight from the press! Experience the gourmet marketplace, where you will find a signature selection of extra virgin olive oils and vinegars, stuffed olives, and tapenades, as well as a line of bath and body products made with extra virgin olive oil.

Moondance GalaHeard Museum Phoenix | October 19602.346.8192 | Heard.org Celebrate one of the social season’s most exciting events. Enjoy cocktails, dinner, and dancing under the stars at the Heard Museum Phoenix. Proceeds from this annual benefit gala provide funding for the museum’s educational mission to educate the people about the arts.

Village Tavern480.951.6445 | Villagetavern.com

When you put your home on the market it is no longer your private abode decorated specifically to your taste. An appealing décor is really the best marketing you can get for the property. Real estate agents generally suggest painting the interior a neutral color to appeal to a broad set of buyers. But before you rush out and buy paint, take this simple color test and decide your best color strategy for selling your property.First, walk thru each room as if you had never seen the property before. Does any particular color stick out and not give that room its broadest appeal? Your agent can help you take an objective view. Very dark colors or pastels are the most difficult to appeal to the masses. If your buyer is a single man, will he be turned off by the lilac color bathroom? Do any colors scream of another era? How about that teal color in your dining room? Will the buyer feel stuck in the 1980’s? Some sellers justify a color scheme because the expensive drapes they purchased to match the wall color will have to go if they decide to paint. Again, take an objective view of the color and the drapes and decide whether they are a positive selling point or a negative selling point. As a seller, you must keep in mind that buyers have very little imagination. It is typically better to give buyers a more neutral palette by which they can easily visualize their furniture in the home. Do you feel like the interior décor feels consistent or are there so many colors that you feel like you have walked under a rainbow? Too many different colors may also be a hard sell. The more coherent the interior feels to the buyer, the more appealing. Second, take the professional photos and then review them when they are posted on the internet. Your potential buyer in almost all cases will have seen the photos that are on the internet. Does the red dining room that you consider beautiful show well in the internet photos? It is amazing how many colors do not photograph well. Dark colors may make the room appear much smaller in the photos than it really is. Did the wall color photograph to its true shade? Yellow is very difficult to photograph consistently. A bad photo may cause a buyer to pass over your home in favor of another property. Your real estate agent will know the market conditions in your area. Since some might say that we are in a “seller’s market” a neutral color palette could simply help to secure a sales price higher than listed. It is not worth the risk to turn off buyers when a coat of paint could draw them in. Finally, go to your neighborhood home improvement store and familiarize yourself with the popular color palettes being marketed in the store. Take a few brochures and come home and scrutinize the color palette in your own home. The dark brown you painted a few years ago may now be passé. Walk thru a bedding and drapery store and see what colors are prevalent. Will your décor feel too out-dated to potential buyers? Talk to your real estate agent because a few simple changes may make all the difference and help you market the home in its best light.

Grilled Thai Chicken SkewersSKEWERS4 Hoisin-marinated chicken tenders (marinate for 12 hours)1 c salad mix1/4 c miso dressing2 red peppers, julienned2 yellow pepper, julienned2 tbsp. Hoisin Sauce1/4c sweet chili sauce 1 tsp. black and white sesame seeds, toasted

Place Hoisin-marinated chicken (skewered) on grill and cook evenly, be careful not to burn the skewers. Combine salad mix and miso dressing and coat evenly. Place salad in a tall pile in the center of the plate. Place peppers around the salad. After the chicken is cooked, brush with Hoisin Sauce and place chicken on salad to

form a tee-pee. Sprinkle with sesame seeds over the entire plate. Serve with a ramekin of sweet chili sauce.

MISO DRESSING FOR SALAD1/2 c Shiro Miso Paste1/4 tsp. soy sauce1/3 c rice wine vinegar1 tbsp. cilantro, chopped1/3 c mayonnaise1/3 c water2 tsp. honey2/3 c olive oil

Combine all ingredients except for the olive oil and mix thoroughly. Add olive oil slowly while whisking until completely emulsified. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Get ready to hit the patio as the weather cools and you get the long-awaited chance to spend more time outdoors. What to look for in an outdoor space? Today, many homeowners are seeking the alfresco trifecta: a complete outdoor kitchen, an outdoor fire area, and plenty of outdoor dining and lounging space. Of course, it doesn’t hurt to throw in a saltwater pool, either, right? When it comes to outdoor kitchens, Arizonians think big. Whether you’re buying or renovating, look for all the necessary amenities, which of course starts with the all-important grill. Look for a built-in grill, made to withstand the elements. That usually means a stainless steel exterior and perhaps a partially enclosed or covered area to keep the grill and kitchen from being completely exposed to the elements. Consider an outdoor pagoda to shield the chef from the sun and delineate the kitchen space from the rest of the landscape.The design of your alfresco kitchen is as important as your everyday indoor kitchen. Make sure the chef has plenty of space for utensils, ingredients, and food prep. And be sure to look for an outdoor

kitchen that has storage space for all the BBQ accouterments, as well as cabinets for a few pots, plates, and grilling

accessories. Although appliances needn’t be large, a small fridge and dishwasher are truly the icing on the key. Next up is the alfresco dining area. Make sure it’s far enough away from the grill so guests aren’t bothered with the heat of the BBQ (and so the cook has some space to work). Keep the table and chairs sleek and made from easy-care, sun-resistant fabrics. Outdoor area rugs, plenty of cushions on the benches and chairs, and even a chandelier or two to create mood lighting will make your space spectacular. As the evening air chills, move guests over to the built-in fire area for drinks, desserts, and conversation. After all, nothing creates ambiance better than a crackling, cozy fire. Create the perfect spot for serenity, lively conversation, or maybe even a little romance. Outdoor fireplaces can be simple fire pits—perfect for warming up and making s’mores with the kids—or they can be dramatic showstoppers such as a gas firewall, sure to wow any guest with its modern simplicity. A glass of wine, a cozy blanket to ward off any late-season chill, and there’s no better place to spend a fall Arizona evening. Cheers!

The Great Outdoors